"mercy rules" ??

[SWFLguy]

I'm curious--- here in Florida the FHSAA has a mercy rule
that allows a running clock after the first half if the team
on the losing end of a 30 point differential requests it.
The clock will run continuosly except for team or official time outs or if the score drops back below the 30 points.
Any other states have such a rule ? I think it is a good idea;
and would like to see it accepted by the National Federation.

[kenref1]

Here in Illinois we have a 40 point rule in the second half. The only time it stops is for a score, a time-out, an officials time-out and the end of the third period. If the lead drops below 40, the clock still runs.

[JRutledge]

We have a 40 point mercy rule that applies only to the second half. Once you get to the 40 point differential, you cannot go back. So if the total gets to 37, the mercy rule is still in affect. The clock runs all the time unless there is a stoppage for injury or right after a score. The clock runs threw penalty enforcement, first downs, incomplete passes and change of possessions.

Peace

[mcrowder]

Our local area doesn't allow for mercy rules in varsity games, but at every level below, a 25 point lead at any point starts the running clock rules. Clock only stops on injuries, timeouts, end of quarter/half, and changes of possession (on the younger kids - below 7th - it doesn't stop on change of possession). It starts on the ready after quarter/half and changes of possession.

[Jim S]

Washington only has one at the "B" 8 level.

Nebraska: 11-man, no mercy rule. 8-man, game stops at halftime or anytime in the 2nd half if a team gains a 45 point lead.

Iowa: All classes, 35 point lead at halftime or after causes running clock for the remainder of the game. If the differential drops below 35, then the regular clock rules apply.

[SoGARef]

At the end of the first half of play, if a team is trailing by 30 or more points, the coach of the trailing team would have the option to play the second half of play with a running clock. Quarters would remain 12-minute quarters.

If the coach does not exercise the option mentioned above, the third quarter would be played with a regulation clock. If the point differential reaches 30 or greater points during the third quarter, the quarter would continue to be played with a regulation clock. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game would automatically change to a running clock.

A running clock means that the clock will be stopped only:
(a) after a touchdown and until the ball is kicked off
(b) during deliberations for penalty administration
(c) during charged time-outs or officials' time-outs

[glyphrunner]

North Dakota has a 30-point running clock that goes into effect in the second half. Same thing as above, if the differential drops below 30 points, we return to standard timing.

In North Dakota, a running clock means that the clock will be stopped only:
(a) after a point-after-try and until the ball is kicked off
(b) for penalty administration
(c) during charged time-outs or officials' time-outs


Minnesota has *no* mercy provisions whatsoever, and that was evidenced yet again in tonight's 56-12 shelacking in the game I worked. The score wasn't even that close until the end when the lower-classmen came in.


I honestly feel that a standard mercy rule should be made. If the other team is being blasted that hard, the only thing a lot of those kids want is to get on the bus and leave. But, you also run into the problem of potential chippiness and USC on the part of the team losing. They may feel that the only way they can make anything of the game is to try and injure the other team. Providing that running clock, at least, manages to reduce the amount of time available for potential tempers to flare.




[Edited by glyphrunner on Sep 11th, 2004 at 01:44 AM]

[Forksref]

Correction on the North Dakota rule. The rule applies to when the clock continues to run, not when it stops.

In the second half when there is a 30+ point margin, the clock continues to run (1) on an incomplete pass (2) out of bounds (3) during the try unless the TD caused the margin to go below 30 again. We used this rule in the second game of the season. It doesn't shorten the game much in that the team ahead rarely passes the ball.

We used to have a 45-pt rule where the game was over in the second half at that margin. But, that was unfair in that you miss the opportunity to play your second-stringers. Fortunately, that was changed many years ago.

[SoGARef]

We had a game the first week of the season where the mercy rule was imposed and the winning team still won 81-0!!!!

[glind13]

In Wisconsin, it is a 35 point rule in the second half. Clock only stops after a score, any time-out or extended injury. It goes back to a regular clock when it drops below 35 points.

[bigwes68]

No rule in Tennessee. Any period can be shortened by mutual agreement of the coaches, but no running clock, ever. If it's out of hand, though, we might "forget" to stop the clock.

We've had some games where we've shortened the third and fourth quarters to 8 or 10 minutes, but we never use a running clock.

[Mike Simonds]

In our local high school league, we have a mercy rule that works like this:

Regular time applies to the 1st half no matter what the score is.

Starting in the second half, once the score differential reaches 35 points or more, then the running time rules apply. If the score differential drops below 35 points at any time during the second period, then regular time will apply again until the 35 point difference is reached again.

When the clock is running at this time, we only stop the clock when we have to spit!

S = stop the clock for a score
P = stop the clock to administer penalties
I = stop the clock for injuries
T = stop the clock for a time-out

Otherwise the clock will run.

This is our mercy rule for Hawaii.

[Matt-MI]

Michigan's is the same as Hawaii.

[SJoldguy]

NF comment. We have NO MERCY here in NJ!!!!

Just a curious question: some said that during your mercy rule application, the clock stops for officials timeouts. Does this mean all regular officals timeouts such as on a first down, false start, etc? or just if you need to stop it for something special?